I'm a full-time mummy

When I first got pregnant in late 2010, I panicked because my 2 years old boy was still nursing up to 4-5 times a day and ALWAYS before nap and bedtime. People around me keep telling me to quickly wean him off, else when he goes to nursery/daycare, he will have trouble then since he's used to my breasts. I also get people telling me that my breastmilk will be poisonous when I'm pregnant (old folks myth) so I actually started with reducing his nursing to before nap and bedtime.

What I did was, I replace the other feeding sessions with play and activities. We spend some time in the playroom, let him do some drawing or doodling, play his Lego, watch TV or iPad, anything to distract him from asking for his nen-nen (aka his breastmilk).

But honestly to tell you the truth, the only time I can rest during my tiring phase of pregnancy is when my boy nursed. I love that I can just lie down on bed with my bulging belly and let my boy suckle. I get my rest, he gets to nurse and comfort himself and we get to bond. Win-win situation, no?

I did however managed to cut down our feeding sessions to before afternoon naptime and bedtime but yes, I do occasionally let him nurse when he is fussy or having discomfort. I'm practising what we call the, 'Don't offer, don't refuse' method. You don't offer your child your breasts if he/she does not ask for it but you don't refuse him/her if he/she does ask for it.

In September 2011 when my girl came along, I had tandem nursing aversion for 1 month. I hated my boy so much when I got home from hospital with my baby girl. The moment my boy asked for his feed, I got so angry. Poor boy doesn't know why mummy is like that. Finally acknowledge I got problems in my head and tell my hubby and I even blogged about it. I felt a big relief after that cos it's all in my head and when my 2nd child is 1 month old, I got over the tandem nursing aversion and continued feeding both my kiddos. My boy, always before afternoon naptime and bedtime. My girl, on demand whenever she wants.

Slowly my boy will forget to ask for his feed when he sees me and my girl constantly nursing (I feed on demand) and sometimes when he asked for it, I will let him nurse. The last I asked him to suckle, he forgot how to do it. He was 45 mths old then ...

Now what I would suggest you to do if you are in the same situation, as in, you want to wean your child...

• I'd go for gentle weaning if possible. Gentle as in, letting your child lead his/her way.
  

• NEVER decide to wean when you are not in a happy mood. You might regret this decision later.
  

• Go Google more on the 'Don't offer, don't refuse' method. I personally feel this method is more peaceful and gentle.

• Slowly replace nursing time with other bonding activities to keep your child's mind off asking for feeds

• Get your partner to accompany your child before bedtime.

• You can do a count if you have to nurse your older child to sleep, probably count to 20 then tell him/her it's time to sleep.

• I also patted my boy's back and gently rubbed his back to sleep, until today he needs one of my hand to be on his body/face - something like a comfort pillow for him to sleep.
  

I breastfed my boy throughout my 2nd pregnancy, tandem him with my newborn girl for 1 year+ and finally weaned him at 45 mths old. Maybe a tad too long for some people but I believe in letting my child lead his way. I am currently preggy with our 3rd child and is still nursing my now 1.5 year old girl and doing the same method. I'll let my child decides when they are ready to stop.

I have a beautiful breastfeeding journey with my 4 years old Benjamin and would never trade anything for it. I hope to repeat the same thing with my 1.5 years old Alyson now and continue on tandem nursing her and our 3rd child later if possible.

Here's wishing you all the best in your decision making and I hope you will have a memorable breastfeeding journey that you can treasure with your child for a long long long time!

I came across this bible verse and it reminded me back the time I was deciding whether I should quit my IT job of 9 years in order to be a stay-at-home mother for my child (then about 2 months old). We were having trouble looking for a babysitter for him (one that can take care of him while I work from 9am to 6pm) and were pondering what other options we could have in order for our baby to be cared for properly.

Can't rely much on my MIL as she has (and still does) sleeping problems... she goes to bed at 7-8am and woke up at 12-2pm. By which time I'm already out at work and definitely can't leave my boy at home for her to care for.

And so we prayed to God, and decided to let Him decide. His will, His bill. At that time, we are relying on my hubby's IT business and of course I'm comfortable earning my own salary. To cut things short, decision was made, I quit and became a SAHM since then.

We were lucky to be staying with MIL (her house but hubby paid all the bills and groceries) and we have a car, a second-hand 11 years old car which hubby bought for very cheap price and it's all paid up, so not much commitment on our sides other than we must be frugal and think lots of times before deciding to spend any of our money. No overseas holidays until kiddos are old enough to appreciate and remember, even for family outing, we do it like once or twice a year locally and get the affordable holiday package and simply just budget and save.

Matthew 6:25 (NIV) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Matthew 6:27 (NIV) Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

Matthew 6:32 (NIV) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

To be honest, today, hubby's business is really picking up and we are looking for resource to help him in his company and kiddos wise, 2 now, with 3rd one on the way in September this year.

And a few weeks back, I checked back my personal bank accounts, the savings there is almost the same as what I had when I quit my job. Meaning, God provides enough for us to sustain through the years. God is good!

Oh boy! Did you know that Malaysia’s biggest and longest running educational kids’ fair is back?!

Just for 3 days, parents and children get to attend this education fair and gather all information with regards to education, health related products and services, creative learning games and toys, basically everything you want to find out as a parent for yourself, your family and your children!

"Smart Kids was founded based on the premise that parents needed to have a better avenue of choice in terms of education for their children. It was first conceptualized in year 2002 to provide a platform for parents and children to explore and discover together the latest educational products and services in a edu-fun way that is filled with exciting and innovative activities and programs.

Smart Kids’ mission statement is “to be the premier platform used by parents to introduce the joys of learning to their children, in a manner which utilizes the tools most readily accepted by individual children and tailored to an individual child’s most effective way of learning.” Smart Kids makes available a platform for holistic, whole child learning by gathering together various educational institutions, system providers and learning programmes in an environment conducive to fact finding and consultation."

Did you know that one of Smart Kids’ core beliefs is that every child is smart in his or her own way and that their parents’ responsibility is to help them find ways and means beyond the usual, formal education system in which to bring out the best in their kids?

I am very pleased to find out about this as I do strongly believe in letting my child learn at their own pace, when they are ready and more receptive and yes, as a parent, I feel a deep sense of responsibilities to ensure that my children learns what it takes to not just survive the outside world, but to use their brain and logic thinking to chart their own path when they are grown up and ready to face the world.

As a stay-at-home-mother of 2 kiddos (and third one coming in September 2013!), I would personally watch out for educational related products. For those who are not aware, I'm currently teaching my 4 years old boy, nothing heavy yet and we don't have a curriculum to follow, although every weekdays we will have two half hour sessions of learning activities where I get my kiddos to learn how to write numbers, reading books together, coloring, play Lego, play dough and the rest of the day are pretty much playtime, eating, napping, bathing, a little iPad time (on story apps or games) and bonding with grandma and daddy.

I can't say for now how long I intend to teach my kiddos but I would totally be interested to find out more on the different methods of education (such as Montessori) and what are the extra fun and educational activities I can have my kiddos participate in as part of their playtime and also in improving their social skills.

I mean, looking at the list of companies and brands that are participating in this year's fair, I'm all giddy up and excited! I know my boy will be thrilled with Lego, I myself am happy to see this famous brand as one of the exhibitors during the fair and although I have personally never ever touched a single Lego brick before becoming a parent, I do believe now that it is really really useful and educational as well! We have personally witnessed the many Lego creations made by our 4 years old boy and see how it got our boy to be so creative at a tender young age. Amazing! And to think this is just one of the many many brands that will be participating in the education fair!

Now enough about me, we focus back to you and your loved ones! If you have not heard or attend this type of education fair and wondering how can it benefit you, oh well, think of how convenient it is to have all the information you wanted under one same place!

Anything you have been dying to find out, whether it is education program or methods or schools for your little ones, what sort of creative, fun and yet educational toys and games that you can get for your children, what are the latest products in health or finance related areas for yourself, your family and your children?

Imagine all the information all ready for you to go and find out! No need to crack your head to Google and compare the various websites and reviews and feedbacks when you can have a look yourself during the education fair itself. And don't forget the opportunities for you to ask the staff of the companies or brands face to face on the day itself if you are keen to know more!

I believe that if you attend the education fair with your family, you will be able to let your child explore and find out what interests them as well. Now parents, what better way to let your child discover their inner talents and passions while at the same time you get to find out more for yourself and your family and spend the day out as a family?

Of course, there are some contest and activities that your children can take part and have fun during the education fair as well and also some cool giveaways and lucky draws will be held during the education fair as well!

Smart Kids 2013 will be held at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur on 19 to 21 April 2013.

A bit more information on the admission details:

* FREE entrance for kids (below 16 years old)
* RM5.00 admission (per adult / day)
* Log on to www.smartkids.com.my to pre-register before 14th April 2013 for Free Admission Pass (per adult)

What are you waiting for? You have less than 2 weeks to register!!